Toowoomba set to finally get an RSL it deserves

Toowoomba Regional Council, the Queensland branch of the RSL and the local RSL sub-branch have made an in-principle agreement that will implement a major redevelopment of the Ruthven St building.

As the agreement stands, part of the run-down hall attached to the rear of the building will be demolished, subject to heritage regulations, and replaced with a memorial park.

The sub-branch will also look for a financier and developer to undertake a major refurbishment of the back half of the building, which will provide a commercial opportunity, which could be used for a bar or restaurant.

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Toowoomba United RSL sub-branch president Troy Atfield said the agreement was a huge step for the RSL after "baby steps for a couple of years".

"To finally get them all around the table and talking about it and actually agreeing to progress with it is a huge step forward," Mr Atfield said.

"We worked on some plans and presented it to them - they seem pretty happy with the direction we're going.

"(A restaurant) would be nice, but we can't guarantee that. We'd like to have a bar, have some meeting rooms, but further advancement of that is going to take finances, so we'll see how things go."

Concept drawings of the redeveloped Toowoomba RSL.

Sub-branch vice-president Paul Clark said the redevelopment was likely to cost in the order of a "couple of million" dollars, with half the footprint taken by the building, and half by the garden.

Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio said he was hoping the in-principle agreement, which included a long-term lease (for a nominal fee), would be ratified in council's May round of meetings.

"We'll be sorting out the lease with the RSL, then going through the process of removing that hall, and then replacing that with a memorial garden. That process will take something in the order of 12 months.

"It would appear the local branch has some plans, some very early stage plans to do something with that back part.

"It does need attention, and I think we can give it that attention in the not too distant future.

"The fact that we've got someone who will partner us now, it's very positive, it's a win-win for Toowoomba."

Mr Atfield said the timeline of the redevelopment was still uncertain, but he was hoping to have "something to show" by Anzac Day next year.